MovieChat Forums > I Love Lucy (1951) Discussion > Rewatching Season Two

Rewatching Season Two

posted 2 years ago by Garyandfilm (556)
9 replies | jump to latest

After finishing a general review of season one (faves, mixed in with several eps I rarely watch), I've started on season two. As a rule, I prefer the early part of this season with the post-pregnancy shows. Expectant mothers, with the built-in-isn't-it-touching storylines aren't my thing, whether it's Lucy Ricardo or Gloria Stivic (and, no, I couldn't care less about Lucille Ball being pregnant, as I care about her art, not her kids).

That being said, I started last night with "Lucy Becomes a Sculptress" and "The Inferiority Complex." I enjoyed both, although neither are great offerings. But it was fun catching them again. The biggest problem with "Inferiority" is Lucy's sudden drop in self esteem. And while Lucy could be as insecure as all of us, this sudden drop didn't feel legit, despite some highly sensitive moments in Ball's performance. What's frustrating is the fact that it was filmed during Lucy's (obvious) pregnancy. Instead of airing it as a pre-pregnancy "memory" show, they should've aired it DURING the pregnancy storyline, with Ethel commenting that Lucy's moodiness was due to her "condition." Furthermore, the therapist could've told Ricky that Lucy felt the baby was all his focus and that Lucy needed attention for just being Lucy. These little changes could've saved an otherwise forgettable offering.

[–] [email protected] (6247) 2 years ago

Well NOW I have to work on season two!

I think I'll watch "The Inferiority Complex" tonight. It is hard to believe that Lucy's self esteem took such a nose dive! It's not a totally bad episode.

As far as Lucille Ball having kids, I really don't think the baby added much to the series. There were just too many bits of dialogue to explain that the baby was napping or out with Mrs. Trumbull. It made for so much awkwardness. I can understand that the Arnazes wanted to include their real life pregnancy, but it didn't help the show.

[–] Garyandfilm (556) 2 years ago

I actually disagree, as we wouldn't have the stag show ep, the Mr. Livermore show, "Baby Pictures", and other season three Little Ricky treats. The Mayer twins are adorable, and i can't imagine a Mrs.Trumbullless ILL!

Little Ricky was also important in showing how selfLESS Lucy could be. "Nursery School" alone is important in this regard.

By comparison, look how Adam Stephens added zilch to Bewitched. At least the ILL producers didn't bring in a second kid!

Back to season two: last night I watched "Pregnant Women are Unpredictable", an ep I haven't watched in years! Like "Inferiority", it's pretty bland, but Ball's emotional register is spot-on. And everyone looks so fresh and youthful. Well, other than Fred...

[–] [email protected] (6247) 2 years ago

If I was a politician you'd call me a "flipflopper". But I must say that I agree with your disagreement. When I think about it, there were a lot of Little Ricky inspired episodes. And his presence DID demonstrate that Lucy could be selfless.

I was just focusing on how awkward and artificial it is to have a baby or toddler on a sitcom. They are always NAPPING! LOL!!! Lucy would walk into the apartment with the baby who was "so tired" and had to be put down for his nap. Or
Lucy would come home and ask Ethel about the baby and he was "napping". Or she'd ask where the baby was and find out that "Mrs. Trumbull took him to the zoo." Or she'd take him up to play with Mrs. Trumbull.

Really, Lucy was a stay at home mom and housewife. Why did she need a nanny? Well, because ILL was all about Lucy's antics and a baby just got in the way.

As for Mrs Trumbull, she was a delightful old gal and a great addition to the show. But they could've found a way to put her in the series without her being a babysitter. The "Breaking the Lease" episode would've been perfect. Seriously, the Ricardos held a NOISY jam session until 4 AM and none of the tenants complained? Mrs. Trumbull threw a fit and threatened to call the cops because of a crying baby. Yet an earsplitting group of musicians didn't keep her awake?

I don't mean to be patronizing to nonparents, but those of us with kids know that they are NOT always napping. They are usually underfoot!!! You can rarely do anything without a toddler in your way.

Of course with TV regulations, babies can't be in a scene for very long. So they have to be off camera "napping". It just makes for awkward moments.

Yes, Adam added nothing to Bewitched. But since Elizabeth Montgomery was pregnant, there was little that they could do about that.

One last thing, you didn't think Fred looked fresh and youthful??? LOL

[–] Garyandfilm (556) 2 years ago

Did you watch "The Inferiority Complex?" Last night, I watched "The Black Eye." Strong general plot and crisp performances, but even the hint of domestic/physical violence still turns me off. Can't watch this one regularly.

[–] [email protected] (6247) 2 years ago

I forgot to watch it! I've been watching my Barney Miller DVDs. But I will watch it tonight.

I was thinking about "The Black Eye" and how it was a major turnoff for both of us. The performances are great but the topic is blecchh! There are a few ILL episodes where domestic violence is played for laughs. There's an episode where Lucy is getting some gossip about another couple.

She asks if one of them really gave the other a black eye. And in "The Gossip" the story begins with Lucy getting a juicy story about another couple having a big fight in a restaurant. It just seems like the thinking back then didn't take domestic violence seriously.

[–] Corryveckan45 (181) 2 years ago

It took some time for sitcoms to take Domestic Violence seriously. I saw an episode of THAT GIRL in which Marlo Thomas' "Ann Marie" character was selected to serve as a juror on a Domestic Assault and Battery case in which the husband allegedly slapped his wife in the face, bruising her face and breaking two of her teeth.

In a takeoff on TWELVE ANGRY MEN, "Ann" is the lone holdout among the jurors in believing the husband is innocent. She ultimately seemingly proves her point to the other jurors and the guy is acquitted. When the wife jumps up to protest the verdict, the husband yells at her to "Shut up!" and slaps her again, in a manner that proves he could do it and was guilty.

the incident is played for laughs as the judge, with a look of disgust, dismisses the jury, and the other jurors all frown at Ann as they leave. The topper is that as Ann and her boyfriend "Don Hollinger" (Ted Bessell) leave the courtroom, she makes a joke about the incident and they laugh at it.

As for ILL, Ricky putting Lucy over his knee and spanking her for her misdeeds, which I think he did more than once, would be considered domestic violence, even though Lucy deserved some punishment for her misdeeds.

As for "The Black Eye," as in a few other episodes, the whole mess was Ethel's fault, all of it.

[–] [email protected] (6247) 2 years ago

Yes, Lucy got several spankings. Ricky put her over his knee when she filled the apartment with toys (and a giant sliding board) to prove how crowded they were with a new baby. She had a point. In this instance, Ricky was the one who needed to have some sense slapped into him.

Was he really content to still live in a one bedroom apartment with a baby? Was Little Ricky supposed to stay in his crib until he left for college?

He also spanked her when she made him lose his temper because she lost the bet and bought a new hat.

He also played Babalu on her backside when Lucy did magic tricks behind his back while he serenaded her at the Club. But that was also Ricky's fault because he said he would star her in an act at the Tropicana. But he was only pretending and worked her so hard that she quit.

[–] Corryveckan45 (181) 2 years ago

You may have a point, PJ, but from Ricky's perspective, they couldn't afford to move into a larger apartment, and though Lucy always says she will, she never makes any effort to economize. If she did, maybe they could have afforded the larger place without an argument and Lucy's machinations.

Although I'm opposed to corporal punishment, spousal abuse, Lucy really deserved some severe punishment for the terrible things she did to Ricky to make him lose their bet, especially as she had already lost the bet. I tried to watch this one all the way through when it was on Pluto a couple of nights ago, but I've never been able to do it. I can't believe people find Lucy's sadistic baleful behavior in this episode, not to mention her smug attitude, amusing.

Finally, Ricky did play a bad trick on Lucy with that elaborate star turn dance routine, but if Lucy were a real show biz pro, she wouldn't have tried to get back at him in public. There are many examples of real life onscreen couples who genuinely disliked working together, but they didn't let it affect their performances.

Of course, I realize that if Lucy had handled her offscreen anger in a more mature manner, it probably wouldn't make for great comedy.

[–] [email protected] (6247) 2 years ago

I agree that Lucy was bad at managing money. Ricky dropped the ball though. He should have stood up to her as head of the house and breadwinner and gotten a business manager before "The Business Manager" episode(incidentally, one of my favorites).

If he didn't want to deal with the bills and paying rent, he needed to hire someone who could because Lucy clearly couldn't!

As for Lucy's expenses, he could have set up a checking account for her. It would have been for Lucy's clothes, hairdresser, etc. and when the money was spent , that would be IT for the month. Ricky may have yelled a lot but Lucy knew that he'd always come through and pay for whatever she bought.

As for the new apartment that Ricky couldn't afford, well he COULD afford it by the end of the episode! I don't think he got a raise overnight. He just didn't want the added expense. But really, it was only $20.OO a month. I don't know what a bandleader made, but he clearly wasn't a lower class working guy. He must've made at least as much as the Mr. Benson who was paying the extra twenty every month.

I don't know how the Ricardos could've been so poor. They lived modestly, except for Lucy's wardrobe and $50 hats. Really, they had a one bedroom apartment and no car. Lucy bought some new furniture after they moved to the bigger place. But what did she buy? A couch and chair and a coffee table. Not a whole lot of furniture. She never asked for a new bedroom set or a kitchen set.

Again, she was scatterbrained when it came to money. But Ricky needed to step up and put his foot down instead of just yelling.